Toy



Dec. 23, 1958 R. BLACKMUN TOY Filed Nov. 25, 1956 i) @SVIZQQ/ United States Patent O TOY Robert L. Blackmun, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 623,983

4 Claims. (Cl. 273-97) This invention relates, to a new and improved toyand more particularly to a ball manipulating toy.

Toys of the type wherein a ball is manipulated on the end of an elastic cord have been popular since the commercial development of the rubber band. Probably the most common toy of this type is the simple Wooden paddle from which a rubber ball is suspended on a rubber band attached to both the paddle and ball. With this toy the ball is hit by the paddle so that it flies out sufficiently to distend the lrubber band which then propels the ball back in the direction of the paddle permitting repetitive manipulation. Other similar toys take various forms such as a cup for catching a ball on an elastic cord and a ring through which a ball o-n an elastic cord is manipulated. l

It is a combination of the above separate toys to which the present invention is directed. Thus the single toy of this invention can operate as the paddle, cup, ring, or any desired combination thereof. Further the present toy provides a simple and compact construction wherein the ball can be neatly stored and carried within the structure of the toy itself.

Therefore, it is the general object of this invention to provide a new and improved toy.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a toy of the type having a ball attached to an elastic cord.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy which is easily convertible to use in several different ball projecting and returning manipulations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combination ball-paddle, ball-cup, and ball-hoop toy.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toy as described having removable covers.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a toy as described in which the ball can be contained within the toy ,when not in use for the convenience of storage and handling.

Other and further objects of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a toy disclosing one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the toy of Fig. 1 shown partially in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the covers spaced from the body of the toy;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the toy of Fig. l showing one method of manipulation;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the toy of Fig. 1 showing an alternate method of manipulation;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the toy of Fig. 1 showing still another method of manipulation.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. VvReferring now to the drawings thetoy of this invention isfor the purpose of exemplary disclosure shown as embodied in a box 10 containing va ball 11 on an elastic cord 12. f v

The box 10 includes a hollow cylindrical bodymember 13l which is open at both ends 14, and is of such size that it can be readily and easily held in the hand.

Covers 15 are provided for covering the open ends 14 of the cylinder 13. These covers 15 consist of bases 16 and annular side walls 17 having inner diameters approxie mately the same as the outer diameter of the cylinder 13 so that they can be removablyattached over theopen ends 14 of the cylinder and held in place by friction of the side walls 17 lagainst the cylinder 13.

The elastic cord 12 has one end 18 mounted on the inside; of the cylinder 13 as by gummed paper 19 or any other desirable mounting means. The other end 20 of the` y elastic cord 12 is secured to the ball 11 as by embedding it in the ball as at 21. This cord 12 is of any desirable length so that when the ball is thrown away from the box, 'the .cord will elastically distend with a resuting.` propulsion of the ball back in the direction ot'l the box.

As can be s'een from the embodiment above described the Present invention is susceptible to a multitude of uses. Thus as shown in Fig. 4 wherein the cylinder 13 combined only with the bottom cover 15 forms a cup, the ball can be repetitively thrown outwardly and caught on the return in the cup.

Another method of manipulation of this toy is shown in Fig. 5 wherein both covers 15 are removed from the cylinder 13 and the ball 11, having a diameter lees than the inner diameter of the cylinder is oscillated through the cylinder from a position atthe end of the cord on one side of the cylinder to a position at the end of the cord on the other side of the cylinder 13. The particular skill required here is somewhat dependent on the relative size of the ball.

The alternative manipulation shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that of Fig. 4 except that the ball is not intended to be `caught in the cup formed by the cylinder 13 and the cover 15 but is to be repetitively bounced off the bottom interior side of the bottom cover.

The dotted lines'of Fig. 6 show the common paddle construction wherein the ball is bounced off the outside of the cover without entering the cup. This can be combined with the cup manipulation described above byutilizing a single cover and upon alternate bounces 'of the ball turning the cylinder so that it is alternately a paddle and a cup manipulation.

Naturally the present invention can be used by a single player but also lends itself to use as a competitive game wherein players compete to see who can perform the most repetitions. lt is obvious that its use as a competitive game is enhanced by its ability to be used in the several different ways described above.

As described above the ball is small enough to enter thecylinder 13 for purposes of manipulation. Howeverv this is important also for purposes of storage and handling,l since the ball can be contained within the cylinder 13- by placing the covers 15 over the open ends 14 of the cylinder 13 so that the ball will not be loose to roll and inconveniently entangle other objects or be otherwise bothersome.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention results in a ball manipulating toy that can beused in many dilerent ways so as to have continued appeal to a player who might tire of a single use and can beemployed as a competitive multiphase game wherein com-- petition would rst be using one form of manipulation@ andsubsequently the alternate forms of manipulation to determine the-most proficient and versatile Yplayer. Also, the structure of the toy results in an easily and neatly stored and handled package.

I claim as my invention: Y

l. A toy, comprising: a hollow open-ended cylinder; a cover removably attachable to said cylinder and covering yo'neopen endtheieof; an elastic cord having one end secured to the cylinder; a ball secured to the other end of `said cord and having-a resilient diameter less than the inner diameter of said cylinder, the toy being operable to repeatedly manipulate-theball through the cylinder when the cover has been removed and operable to repeatedly bounce the balliagainst either side of the 'cover' when the coveris on.`

2. VA toy', comprising: a hollow -open-endedcylinder; ytwo cup-'shaped covers Vremovably attachable to said cylinder, each end'of the cylinderbeing covered by-one of said covers; an elastic cord having one end secured to said cylinder; a resilient ball secured to the other end of said cord and having adiameter less than the inner diameter of the cylinder, when the covers are removed, the toy is operable to repeatedly manipulate the ball through the cylinder, when one of the covers s attached, the toy is-'operable to repeatedly bounce the ball against either side of the cover, and when both covers are attached, the toy is operable to repeatedly bounce the ball against either cover.

3. A toy, comprising: a hollow open-ended body member; covers removably mountable across the ends of said body member; an elastic member secured to the hollow member and having a free portion; a resilient movable member attached to the free portion of said elastic member and having outer dimensions less than the inner dimensions of said hollow member, when the covers are removed, the toy is operable to repeatedly manipulate the ball through said member, when one of the covers is mounted on the member, the toy is operable to repeatedly bounce the ball against the cover, and when all the covers are mounted on the member, the toy is operable to repeatedly bounce the ball against any of the covers.

4. A toy, comprising: a hollow open-ended body member; a closure across one end of said hollow body member; an elastic member secured to the hollow member aud having a free portion; a resilient movable member attached to the free portion of said elastic member and having outer dimensions less than the inner dimensions of said hollow member, the toy being operable to repeatedly bounce the resilient member against the closure.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 425,343 Raabe Apr. 8, 1890 1,562,534 Wingard Nov. 24, 1925 2,089,652 i Kelly Aug. 10, 1937 y FOREIGN PATENTS 911,977 France v.. Apr. 8, 1946 

